News Category: Restaurants

Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation Mark Fifth Year of Restaurant Strong Partnership, Awarding $775,000 to Small Businesses Nationwide

BOSTON, MA – The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund and Grubhub are proud to announce the distribution of $775,000 in grants to 155 independent restaurants across the country, made possible through the Grubhub Community Fund. Now its fifth year, the partnership continues its shared mission of strengthening local restaurants and the communities they serve.

This year’s funding reflects a targeted investment in regions where independent restaurants play a vital economic and cultural role. Of the total awarded, 10 percent were allocated to restaurants in Chicago and New York, while 20 percent supported businesses in Boston, Philadelphia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, in addition to the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston areas. The remaining funds were distributed to restaurants nationwide, ensuring a broad geographic impact.

We also recognized 27 restaurants for their commitment to the community through the Restaurant Strong Community Award. These small businesses are the heart of local neighborhoods, fueling social change through direct action. Whether through volunteerism, charitable meals, partnerships with local nonprofits, or other meaningful community-driven initiatives, this award honors the businesses that reflect the heart and spirit of their neighborhoods.

As Grubhub and the Restaurant Strong Fund mark five years of collaboration, this program continues to respond to the evolving needs of small businesses. With ongoing economic challenges facing the restaurant industry, this program remains committed to helping operators not only sustain their businesses but also grow and thrive within their communities. To date the partnership has awarded nearly $20 million in grants to restaurants across the United States.

The restaurants selected to receive grants from the Restaurant Strong Fund will be provided with much-needed resources for their small businesses. These funds will assist in updating technology and equipment, marketing and public relations services, staff training programs, staff incentivized wages, maintenance/updating of current infrastructure, and construction or addition of outdoor seating.

This year, the 150 small business restaurants receiving grants from the Restaurant Strong Fund are as follows:

Restaurant Strong Grant Recipients

  • 1803 Pizza Kitchen, Orlando, FL
  • 4 Bros Pizza, New Rochelle, NY
  • ABBAletas, St Cloud, FL
  • Alamodak Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA
  • Aris Halal, Medford, NY
  • Aunt Berta’s Kitchen, Haddon Township, NJ
  • Base Community Café, Chicago, IL
  • Bella Dolce Bakery, Lewisville, TX
  • Benny’s Kosher Pizza, Fresh Meadows, NY
  • Boba Up, Shoreline, WA
  • Bobby G’s Tavern, Chicago, IL
  • Brassica Kitchen and Café, Jamaica Plain, MA
  • Briskets & Gravy, Milwaukie, OR
  • Café Itadaki, Brookline, MA
  • Caffe Boa, Phoenix, AZ
  • Cake Life Bake Shop, Philadelphia, PA
  • Campus Grind, St, Petersburg, FL
  • Carlie’s Corner, Brooklyn, NY
  • Carrot Dog, Atlanta, GA
  • Chicago Wings Around the World 47, Chicago, IL
  • Chickadee, Boston, MA
  • City Slicker Café, Somerville, MA
  • College Pizza, Boston, MA
  • Common Table, San Diego, CA
  • Daaiyah Delicious, Philadelphia, PA
  • Djakarta Café, Philadelphia, PA
  • Dogwood Café, New York, NY
  • Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine, Brookline, MA
  • Everything Grilled, Brooklyn, NY
  • Farina Pasta Bar, Philadelphia, PA
  • Filly Luv, Brooklyn, NY
  • Fitz on 4th, Philadelphia, PA
  • Fork N’ Bowl, Scranton, PA
  • Friend’s Sushi, Chicago, IL
  • Frostea, San Francisco, CA
  • Garifuna Flava: A Taste of Belize, Chicago, IL
  • Gayle V’s Best Ever Grilled Cheese, Chicago, IL
  • Gennaro’s Cutlet Counter, Salem, MA
  • Girl with a Grill, Voorhees, NJ
  • Hai Chi, Baltimore, MD
  • Harbor Greek Café, San Diego, CA
  • Hurley Tap, Chicago, IL
  • Inclusive Grounds Café, Clearwater, FL
  • Indgo MRKTO, Chicago, IL
  • Ingrassia & Sons, Nashville, TN
  • J’s Place, Philadelphia, PA
  • Jay Birds Bar & Grille, Lathrup Village, MI
  • Joe and Sal’s Pizzeria, Brooklyn, NY
  • Josephine’s Kitchen, Jackson, MS
  • Kopitiam, New York, NY
  • Kuya’s Asian Cuisine, San Bruno, CA
  • L’Appart, Los Angeles, CA
  • La Napa, Brooklyn, NY
  • La Pinata Cocina Mexicana y Cantina, Boston, MA
  • La Tiramisu, New York, NY
  • Lady Chow Kitchen, New York, NY
  • Laileilei Juice & Snack Bar, Bronx, NY
  • Lakou Café, Brooklyn, NY
  • Legacy Lounge, Nitro, WV
  • Little Toni’s Restaurant, North Hollywood, CA
  • Mam Koko’s, Baltimore, MD
  • Master Shin Korean Plate, San Jose, CA
  • Mediterranean Grill, Pasadena, CA
  • Metzy’s Taqueria, Newburyport, MA
  • Mex Peru Gypsy, Los Angeles, CA
  • Mexcito, Cambridge, MA
  • Mohmohlicious, Washington DC
  • Mumu Bakery, Los Angeles, CA
  • New Hong Kong Bakery, Philadelphia, PA
  • New India Restaurant, Columbus, OH
  • Nihao Asian Café, Elmhurst, IL
  • Nine Garden, Chicago, IL
  • Ninja Bao, Philadelphia, PA
  • Niu B Sushi, Chicago, IL
  • Niu Japanese Fusion Lounge, Chicago, IL
  • North Point Café, Dundalk, MD
  • Old Skool Café, San Francisco, CA
  • Ouaga Sports Harlem, New York, NY
  • Oui, Philadelphia, PA
  • Paranormal Pizza, Bethlehem, PA
  • Parlor Kitchen, Apopka, FL
  • Paula’s Thai Kitchen, Chicago, IL
  • Pizza USA, Bellflower, CA
  • PoShines, Portland, OR
  • Pranam, New York, NY
  • Ray’s Café & Tea House, Philadelphia, MA
  • Ripple Cambridge, Cambridge, MA
  • River and Woods, Boulder, CO
  • Royale, Manhattan, NY
  • Sakura Sushi & Thai Cuisine, New York, NY
  • Salam Café, Philadelphia, PA
  • Sam & George’s Restaurant, Chicago, IL
  • Sandwich Girl NYC, Brooklyn, NY
  • Scarlet 158 Restaurant, New Brunswick, NJ
  • Seared Pink, Atlanta, GA
  • Shawarma House, Portland, OR
  • Siam Grill, Portland, OR
  • Silvana, New York, NY
  • Souldelishaus, Baltimore, MD
  • Soulicious Vegan Kitchen, Apopka, FL
  • Southern Bistro ATL, Atlanta, GA
  • Southern Kitchen, Tacoma, WA
  • Stone Soup PDX, Portland, OR
  • Stray Cat, Pasadena, CA
  • Sulmona Restaurant & Bar, Cambridge, MA
  • Sushi Ryusei, New York, NY
  • SUteiShi, New York, NY
  • Tarboosh, Boston, MA
  • Tasty World Restaurant, Norridge, IL
  • Tavolo Ristorante, Dorchester, MA
  • The Beetle Bar & Grill, Chicago, IL
  • The Black Whale, Bronx, NY
  • The Grove Beverage Café, Petoskey, MI
  • The Krazy Kokonut, Oregon City, OR
  • The Original Stand, Philadelphia, PA
  • The Tap, Cumberland, RI
  • The Tavern at Bayboro, St Petersburg, FL
  • The Wine Station, Los Angeles, CA
  • Toro Ramen & Poke Barn, San Marcos, TX
  • Tostini, Chicago, IL
  • Twilight Kitchen, Chicago, IL
  • Umami Tsunami Taqueria, Dorchester, MA
  • Urban Hearth, Cambridge, MA
  • Via Cuma, Valley Stream, NY
  • Villa Mexico Café, Boston, MA
  • Wow Spaghetti Valencia, Santa Clarita, CA
  • Yantenga French Bistro, New York, NY
  • Zena’s Mediterranean Cuisine, Oaklyn, NJ

Community Award Recipients

  • Antonio’s Deli, Philadelphia, PA
  • Baramor, Newton Centre, MA
  • Bono Restaurant and Catering, East Boston, MA
  • Casita of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
  • Chef Ke’s Farm to Table, Dunbar, WV
  • Corrib Pub, West Roxbury, MA
  • Cuernavaca’s Grill, Los Angeles, CA
  • Duke’s Ramen, Mamaroneck, NY
  • Gnocco Restaurant, New York, NY
  • Harriets, Hardin, MT
  • Hideaway Café, Winchester, VA
  • Les and Doreen’s Happy Tap, Philadelphia, PA
  • Miss Ruby’s Corner Market, Charlestown, WV
  • Nomad, Hillsborough, NC
  • Ocean Prime, Maspeth, NY
  • Outlaws Café, Hardin, MT
  • Qusqo Bistro, Los Angeles, CA
  • Red White and Pasta, Englewood, NJ
  • Restaurant Beatrice, Dallas, TX
  • Schnitzel Haus, Brooklyn, NY
  • Speed-o Cappuccino, Portland, OR
  • The Comedy Clubhouse, Chicago, IL
  • The Slice Pizzeria, San Antonio, TX
  • Tony’s Place, West Roxbury, MA
  • TriniJam Bk Roti Bar & Grill, Brooklyn, NY
  • United Keetowah Band General Store, Salina, OK
  • Zenas Mediterranean Cuisine, Oaklyn, NJ

For more information about The Restaurant Strong Fund and its commitment to supporting the restaurant industry, please visit www.restaurantstrongfund.org.

About The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund

The Greg Hill Foundation responds to the immediate needs of families that have been touched by tragedy. Since its inception in 2010, the foundation has provided over $32 million in grants to families and individuals in need. The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund was established in March of 2020. The fund was created to help aid the Hospitality Industry as restaurants closed and employees were left out of work due to Covid-19. Now, the Restaurant Strong Fund focuses on providing various grant opportunities to support restaurant owners and employees.

About Grubhub

Grubhub is a leading U.S. ordering and delivering marketplace dedicated to connecting customers with their favorite local restaurants, merchants, and convenience retailers. Grubhub elevates online ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms, and an improved delivery experience. Part of Wonder, Grubhub features over 415,000 merchants in more than 4,000 U.S. cities.

Grubhub Helps Restaurants Grow Foot Traffic with Claim’s Diner Acquisition Technology

The addition of Claim expands Grubhub’s merchant toolkit with new guest marketing and retention offerings, enabling restaurants to attract and retain customers through personalized promotions and loyalty incentives

CHICAGO and NEW YORK, January 20, 2026 – Grubhub’s parent company, Wonder, today announced the acquisition of Claim, a restaurant rewards app. Claim allows consumers to sign up for exclusive cash-back rewards from local restaurants that can be redeemed for dine-in or pick-up orders. Restaurants partner with Claim to create tailored promotions for these highly engaged consumers, boost foot traffic, and track performance insights through the Claim dashboard. Through this acquisition, more restaurants from Grubhub’s merchant network can benefit from Claim’s powerful guest acquisition and retention tools, while Grubhub’s diners can enjoy more savings and get paid to eat out. 

Unlike traditional rewards programs, Claim requires no action from diners or merchants – qualifying transactions made in-person are automatically recognized at the point of payment without any codes or scanning. This seamless experience differentiates Claim from other delivery platforms’ promotions and makes discovering new restaurants more rewarding for diners.

Under Grubhub, Claim will enable restaurants of all sizes, from national brands with thousands of locations to small, locally owned businesses, to connect with high-intent diners through personalized rewards. This approach reduces customer acquisition costs, drives repeat visits, and increases lifetime value, without adding operational complexity.

For diners, Claim makes discovering new favorites effortless. By analyzing ordering behavior, Claim connects diners with restaurants they’re most likely to love — and rewards them with automatic cash back along the way. Claim currently partners with beloved brands such as Joe & the Juice, Just Salad, Blank Street, Bluestone Lane, Wonder, and more.

“We’re committed to helping our restaurant partners build thriving businesses – both on and beyond our platform,” said Howard Migdal, CEO of Grubhub. “Claim’s innovative rewards technology introduces a powerful new way for our restaurant partners to engage in-person diners and builds on Grubhub’s robust existing suite of marketing tools. With Grubhub and Claim together under one roof, we can scale Claim’s data-driven tools to our more than 415,000 merchants and help our nearly 20 million diners save more money at the restaurants they love.”

“Restaurants bring our communities together, and they deserve an effortless way to find great customers,” said Sam Obletz, co-founder and CEO of Claim. “By combining a delightful rewards experience and powerful machine learning models, we match restaurants with their next regulars. Claim is a game-changer for these businesses, and joining Grubhub marks an exciting new chapter as we scale to reach millions more diners and thousands of restaurants.”

Claim will be available immediately to Grubhub merchants and diners in New York City, with a nationwide rollout planned for later in 2026. In the coming months, Grubhub will focus on creating a seamless experience across both apps, making it easy for Claim and Grubhub diners to connect and enjoy personalized rewards.

About Grubhub

Grubhub is a leading U.S. ordering and delivery marketplace dedicated to connecting customers with their favorite local restaurants, merchants and convenience retailers. Grubhub elevates online ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms, and an improved delivery experience. Part of Wonder, Grubhub features over 415,000 merchants in more than 4,000 U.S. cities.

About Claim

Claim is a restaurant rewards app reinventing the way consumers discover restaurants. Claim’s weekly cash-back “Drops” drive diners to find their new favorite places and become regulars. By combining the power of first-party data with social, real-world interactions, Claim helps merchants win and retain the next generation of great customers. For more information, visit claim.co or email merchants@claim.co.

Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund Announce New National Grant Cycle, Marking Fifth Year of Partnership

BOSTON, MA – Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund are proud to announce a new round of national grant opportunities totaling $775,000, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund, to support small business restaurants across the country. As we celebrate five years of partnership, we remain deeply committed to lifting independent restaurants – recognizing now more than ever the urgent need to support small businesses as they navigate ongoing economic challenges and strive to grow within their communities.

Beginning Monday, December 8, 2025, the Restaurant Strong Fund will begin accepting applications on a rolling basis through Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Grants are designed to drive revenue growth and may support a wide range of operational needs, including, but not limited to: upgrading technology or equipment, marketing and public relations services, staff training programs, incentive-based wages, and maintenance or enhancement of existing infrastructure.

Restaurants applying for funding must outline clear and specific plans for how the grant will be used and define measurable goals for expected growth. Grant awards will be in the amount $5,000 based on demonstrated need and potential impact.

In addition to the general grant program, Grubhub and the Restaurant Strong Fund will once again present the Restaurant Strong Community Award, recognizing small business restaurants that go above and beyond in serving their communities. Whether through volunteerism, charitable meals, partnerships with local nonprofits, or other meaningful community-driven initiatives, this award honors the businesses that reflect the heart and spirit of their neighborhoods.

Grants from The Restaurant Strong Fund will be limited to single-location restaurants that meet the following criteria:
• Must be open and operating in the contiguous United States
• Completed application form
• Detailed explanation of need and intended use of funds
• Evidence of financial or operational need

The Restaurant Strong Community Award must satisfy the following requirements:
• Must be open and operating in the contiguous United States
• Completed application form
• At least one reference and/or link to news coverage, program materials, photos, or other documentation demonstrating community impact
• Explanation of how funding will further community-driven initiatives

A portion of grant funds will be dedicated specifically to restaurants located in the Chicago, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia), and Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston areas, while the remaining funds will be available to small business restaurants nationwide. Restaurants may apply for both the general grant program and the Restaurant Strong Community Award; however, preference for general grants is given to first-time awardees.

All grants will be announced the second week of January, continuing our shared mission to give back and to invest in small business restaurants that strengthen and sustain the communities they serve.

About The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund

The Greg Hill Foundation responds to the immediate needs of families that have been touched by tragedy. Since its inception in 2010, the foundation has provided over $32 million in grants to families and individuals in need. The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund was established in March of 2020. The fund was created to help aid the Hospitality Industry as restaurants closed and employees were left out of work due to Covid-19. Now, the Restaurant Strong Fund focuses on providing various grant opportunities to support restaurant owners and employees.

About Grubhub

Grubhub is leading U.S. ordering and delivering marketplace dedicated to connecting customers with their favorite local restaurants, merchants, and convenience retailers. Grubhub elevates online ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms, and an improved delivery experience. Part of Wonder Group, Grubhub features over 415,000 merchants in more than 4,000 U.S. cities.

Grubhub and National ACE Award $485,000 in Funding to Strengthen Nearly 100 Community Restaurants Through Accelerator and Grant Programs

In neighborhoods across the country, family-run restaurants open their doors each morning with a blend of tradition, determination, and hope. Today, 97 of those restaurants are receiving a new source of support. The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) and Grubhub have announced the 2025 Restaurant Accelerator & Community Fund Grant recipients.

This program, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund, empowers all restaurateurs, including Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), by combining financial support of $5,000 with a four-part virtual accelerator focused on maximizing revenue, building a strong digital presence, and attracting more customers. From upgrading kitchen equipment and enhancing online ordering systems to supporting staff and streamlining day-to-day operations, this grant helps restaurants make strategic investments that fuel long-term growth.

“Small businesses are the engine of economic advancement in every community,” said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE. “Restaurants in New York City alone supported hundreds of thousands of jobs and generated tens of billions in economic activity. Neighborhoods like Manhattan’s Chinatown, Flushing in Queens, and Chicago’s Argyle and Devon corridors thrive as vibrant hubs of entrepreneurship, powered by family-owned restaurants. That’s why we’re proud to continue supporting them and helping these businesses grow, innovate, and strengthen the communities they serve.”

This effort is part of a deeper, ongoing collaboration between National ACE and Grubhub. Since the partnership began, more than $6.6 million has been invested directly into small businesses, helping thousands of entrepreneurs strengthen their operations and keep their communities fed.

“We are proud of our continued partnership with National ACE,” said Brianna Morris, associate director of community impact at Grubhub. “Independent restaurants often face unique challenges in a competitive landscape. This integrated approach is designed to help these small businesses expand their digital reach, customer base, and ultimately position themselves for sustainable, long-term growth, and success within their communities.”

We are grateful for the following restaurateurs and subject matter experts who shared their stories and expertise with our accelerator participants:

  • Jinah Ahn, Owner, Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen

  • Ronald Hsu, Chef-Partner and Culinary Director, Lazy Betty

  • Beverly Kim, Co-Owner, Parachute HiFi

  • Taylor Deloye, Manager, Merchant Accounts, Grubhub

  • Charles Shadley, Manager, SMB Merchant Success, Grubhub

  • Brittany Bakkum, Manager, Merchant Support, Grubhub

  • Deja Bond, Founder, Filly Luv

  • Victor Low, Owner, Kapitan

A comprehensive list of the grant winners includes outstanding establishments from across the nation:

  • Akizu Sushi Bar & Grill – Foster City, California

  • Anna’s Vegan Cafe – Sacramento, California

  • Bartel & Bacon – Seattle, Washington

  • Bento Asian Diner – Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

  • Bite&Tea – Bristol, Connecticut

  • Bolicious – Tulsa, Oklahoma

  • Bread & Butter Cafe – Palatine, Illinois

  • Cafe Danvers – New York, New York

  • Cha Community – Waco, Texas

  • Chicago Flavas – Chicago, Illinois

  • China King – Eustis, Florida

  • China One – Jamaica, New York

  • China Palace – Lockhart, Texas

  • Choose and Mix Korean Hibachi Ramen – Worcester, Massachusetts

  • Chow N Joy – Somerville, Massachusetts

  • Comfort Foodies – Houston, Texas

  • Community Creamery – Chicago, Illinois

  • Copper Crown – Asheville, North Carolina

  • Cotton’s Place – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Cowboys & Indians – Houston, Texas

  • D’Bali Asian Bistro – Airway Heights, Washington

  • Da Claudio – New York, New York

  • Dan’s Seafood & Wings – Houston, Texas

  • Ade In Your Life Eats – New York, New York

  • Do Eat Restaurant – San Francisco, California

  • Felicità Wine Company – Sacramento, California

  • Fig’s Corner – Los Angeles, California

  • Filly Luv – New York, New York

  • Flying Chicken Pa-Dak – Artesia, California

  • Fortuna Inn – South Lyon, Michigan

  • Fuleen Palace – Howard Beach, New York

  • General Tso’s Restaurant & Catering – Dunwoody, Georgia

  • Golden Dragon – Staten Island, New York

  • Goomo Tea Shop – Walnut, California

  • Grand Palace Restaurant – South San Francisco, California

  • Guieb Cafe – Aiea, Hawaii

  • Halalstreet Hot Pot – Newark, California

  • Hegewisch Nutrition – Chicago, Illinois

  • Henderson & Kane General Store – Houston, Texas

  • Hot Spots – Denton, Texas

  • Iced – Chicago, Illinois

  • Ichiban Sushi – San Bruno, California

  • J’s Chinese Cuisine – Pasadena, California

  • Jahunger Cambridge – Cambridge, Massachusetts

  • Jahunger Providence – Providence, Rhode Island

  • Kapitan – Chicago, Illinois

  • Koffeteria – Pearland, Texas

  • Kopitiam – New York, New York

  • La Braise African Grill – Springfield, New Jersey

  • Lady Chow Kitchen – New York, New York

  • Laos To Your House – Chicago, Illinois

  • Liz Modern Asian – Scottsdale, Arizona

  • Lovey Poke & Tea House – Newtown, Pennsylvania

  • Marrow Detroit Provisions – Detroit, Michigan

  • Master Shin Korean Plate – San Jose, California

  • Miso Ramen & Hibachi – Mineola, New York

  • Morning Glass Coffee – Honolulu, Hawaii

  • Myung Ga Tofu & BBQ – Closter, New Jersey

  • Nam Coffee – Los Angeles, California

  • Nan Noodle – Bellevue, Washington

  • New Hong Kong Bakery – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • NG Cafe – Austin, Texas

  • Noodle Hole – Marshall, North Carolina

  • Panda Chinese Restaurant – Hattiesburg, Mississippi

  • Parachute HiFi – Chicago, Illinois

  • Polombia – Chicago, Illinois

  • Ramsey Gourmet – Ramsey, New Jersey

  • Rang’s Cocina Moderne – Las Vegas, Nevada

  • Ranken Noodle House – Gaithersburg, Maryland

  • Rasoi Indian Kitchen – North Bay Village, Florida

  • Rising Sun Chinese Restaurant – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Rock N’ Potato – Las Vegas, Nevada

  • Seoul Bap – Carson, California

  • Shuggie’s – San Francisco, California

  • Silver Lake Murayama Sushi – West Harrison, New York

  • Simply Khmer – Lowell, Massachusetts

  • Slurpin Ramen – Laredo, Texas

  • SugaBox – New York, New York

  • Sunday Press – Houston, Texas

  • Sushi Ryusei – New York, New York

  • Sweetie’s K-Chicken – Brooklyn, New York

  • Taiwan Cakery – Ithaca, New York

  • TeaMai Boba – Dracut, Massachusetts

  • Thai Spirit – Los Angeles, California

  • Thai Time – Murray, Utah

  • The Artisan Crepe – Fresh Meadows, New York

  • The Dram Shop Bar – Brooklyn, New York

  • The FIKA Spot – Waltham, Massachusetts

  • Tian Fu King – Flushing, New York

  • Tong Tong Korean Restaurant – Colorado Springs, Colorado

  • Uncle Tito – San Francisco, California

  • Victory Kitchen – Lake Lure, North Carolina

  • Whilma’s Filipino Restaurant – Searcy, Arkansas

  • Wok and Roll Chinese and Japanese Restaurant – Houston, Texas

  • Y’s Choice – Oakland, California

  • Yue Bai Wei – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Yunnan Garden – Hacienda Heights, California

To learn more about National ACE’s accelerator programs or to attend future sessions, which are open to all small business owners, visit nationalace.org.

Grubhub and New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association Award $100,000 in Grants to Restaurateurs

The funding awarded by the 2025 Rising Restaurateur Grant will help empower Latino-owned food and beverage establishments in New York City 

On Tuesday, October 14, Grubhub and the New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association (NYSLRBLA) named 10 restaurants from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens as the recipients of the 2025 Rising Restaurateur Grant. Each restaurateur was awarded a $10,000 grant to reinvest back into their small business restaurant that can be used for business operations, staffing, equipment upgrades, marketing, or other critical needs.

“The New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association is incredibly excited to celebrate the second year of our partnership with Grubhub. For our city’s small and minority-owned restaurants, the Rising Restaurateur grant program is a vital support that enables them to cover essential expenses, invest in growth, and foster innovation. This funding will provide our restaurants with the opportunity to better serve their communities and support positive change in our industry, creating a multiplier effect that will benefit all New Yorkers,” said Sandra Jaquez, president of the New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association.

Grubhub and NYSLRBLA hosted an award ceremony at Mojitos Restaurant in Queens, where representatives of Grubhub and NYSLRBLA, offered remarks congratulating the local and independent restaurateurs who serve as the backbone of New York City’s local economy. 

Rising Restaurateur is a partnership between Grubhub, an online food delivery marketplace, and NYSLRBLA, a nonprofit organization founded to create opportunities for Latino and minority businesses to succeed in the food and beverage industry. 

“The 2025 Rising Restaurateur grant recipients, like the majority of the restaurants Grubhub serves, are small and medium-sized businesses that play a vital role in neighborhoods and communities across NYC,” said Joshua Bocian, Associate Director of Government Affairs at Grubhub. “At Grubhub, we’re committed to uplifting independent restaurants – they’re the heart of our communities – and it’s meaningful for us to help them grow and continue shaping the city’s diverse food scene.”

The complete list of the 2025 Rising Restaurateur grant recipients includes: 

  • The Bronx
    • Boca Restaurant and Steakhouse
    • El DF Mexican Patio
    • Leche y Miel Restaurant
    • Lena Trattoria
  • Brooklyn
    • Carro Café
    • Gustoso Restaurant
  • Manhattan
    • Isla Bonita
    • Tiny Tapas and Bites
  • Queens
    • Estrella Latina Bar and Grill
    • Riko Peruvian Cuisine (2 locations)

About Grubhub

Grubhub is a leading U.S. ordering and delivery marketplace dedicated to connecting customers with their favorite local restaurants, merchants and convenience retailers. Grubhub elevates online ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms, and an improved delivery experience. Part of Wonder Group, Grubhub features over 415,000 merchants in more than 4,000 U.S. cities.

About New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association

The NYS Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association (“NYSLRBLA”) is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization founded for the purpose of helping Hispanic and minority businesses succeed in commerce and industry, particularly, that of the food and beverage industry. NYSLRBLA is one of the largest business organizations of its kind with over 350 restaurant members to date, ranging from individual Latino businessmen/women owning fast food establishments to gourmet larger restaurants to lounges and bars within the tri-state area.

Block and Grubhub Partner to Scale Restaurant Operations and Enhance Consumer Payment Experience

Square’s native integration and Cash App Pay create seamless experience for both restaurants and diners

DISTRIBUTED-WORK-MODEL/OAKLAND, CA and CHICAGO – October 14, 2025 – Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ) today announced a comprehensive partnership with Grubhub that upgrades restaurants’ food ordering ecosystem through an integration with Square’s point-of-sale system and the addition of Cash App Pay as a payment option for Grubhub customers. This partnership demonstrates the power of Block’s ecosystem to solve pain points for both restaurants and customers, while expanding access to millions of potential customers for restaurants.

The integration introduces two key features to the food ordering landscape. First, Square’s integration with Grubhub, announced at Square Releases last week, helps eliminate operational complexity for restaurants by enabling them to manage all orders directly through their Square point-of-sale system. Second, the addition of Cash App Pay as a payment option gives millions of Grubhub customers more flexibility in how they pay for their orders.

“At Grubhub, we’re always looking for ways to help restaurants simplify operations and reach more diners,” said Howard Migdal, CEO at Grubhub. “By integrating directly with Square’s point-of-sale system, we’re removing friction for restaurants so they can manage all their orders in one place, streamline kitchen workflows, and keep menus up to date with ease. And with the addition of Cash App Pay, we’re giving diners even more flexibility and convenience at checkout — all while helping restaurants tap into a new audience of potential customers.”

Square’s seamless Grubhub integration enables restaurants to:

  • Manage all orders directly through their Square POS system, eliminating the need for additional tablets
  • Control menus, modifiers, and inventory across channels from a single dashboard
  • Send orders directly to the kitchen, reducing errors and streamlining operations
  • Access Instant Payouts to maintain steady cash flow
  • Reach millions of Grubhub customers while maintaining operational efficiency

The integration of Cash App Pay provides diners with:

  • A new seamless payment option when checking out on Grubhub
  • Special offers and promotions for Cash App Pay customers
  • Enhanced payment flexibility and convenience

“This partnership showcases Block’s unique ability to drive value for both sellers and customers by serving both sides of the counter,” said Nick Molnar, Global Head of Sales and Marketing at Block. “By uniting Square’s operational capabilities with Cash App’s flexible payment technology, we’re creating a commerce ecosystem that benefits everyone, where restaurants can focus on delivering quality while giving customers more ways to pay.”

This partnership underscores both Grubhub’s and Block’s commitment to innovation, supporting sellers and customers with intuitive technology that makes both running a business and paying for services easier – strengthening local communities in the process. 

About Grubhub

Grubhub is a leading U.S. ordering and delivery marketplace dedicated to connecting customers with their favorite local restaurants, merchants and convenience retailers. Grubhub elevates online ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms, and an improved delivery experience. Part of Wonder Group, Grubhub features over 415,000 merchants in more than 4,000 U.S. cities.

About Block, Inc.

Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ) builds technology to increase access to the global economy. Each of our brands unlocks different aspects of the economy for more people. Square makes commerce and financial services accessible to sellers. Cash App is the easy way to spend, send, and store money. Afterpay is transforming the way customers manage their spending over time. TIDAL is a music platform that empowers artists to thrive as entrepreneurs. Bitkey is a simple self-custody wallet built for bitcoin. Proto is a suite of bitcoin mining products and services. Together, we’re helping build a financial system that is open to everyone.

Grubhub and National ACE to Award $485,000 in Grants Through Restaurant Accelerator and Community Fund Grant

Grubhub and the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE), are proud to announce the opening of applications for the 2025 Restaurant Accelerator and Community Fund Grant, a program made possible by grant support from the Grubhub Community Fund.

From October 1 to October 24, small, independent restaurants across the United States can apply for the chance to join a program designed to spark growth, innovation, and long-term success. Applicants who attend at least three of National ACE’s expert-led virtual Restaurant Accelerator sessions in November will be eligible to receive a $5,000 Community Fund Grant to invest directly in their business.

The program is open to U.S.-based small, for-profit restaurants that are currently operational and licensed in food preparation and service. While the grant is open to all eligible businesses, we encourage Asian American and Pacific Islander restaurateurs operating in economically disadvantaged areas to apply. For a full list of eligibility requirements, please visit: nationalace.org.

Important Dates

● Registration Opens: Oct 1, 2025

● Registration Deadline: Oct 24, 2025

● Virtual Accelerator Sessions: Nov 4, 12, 18 & 25, 2025

● Grant Recipients Announced: Nov 25, 2025

This partnership builds on the lasting impact of Grubhub and National ACE’s shared commitment to small business success. Through National ACE’s Small Business Fund, the organizations distributed $1.3 million in grants to 170 businesses in 2024 alone, providing critical support amid ongoing economic challenges. Since 2021, over $9 million in grants have empowered entrepreneurs in the communities that need it most – a testament to the strength and impact of this partnership.

“Independent restaurants are vital to the success of local economies,” said Brianna Morris, Associate Director of Community Impact at Grubhub. “By partnering with National ACE, we’re combining funding with hands-on training to help small businesses build resilience, expand their reach, and position themselves for long-term growth.”

Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE, added: “Our collaboration with Grubhub demonstrates the power of partnership in driving economic growth. Together, we are equipping small business owners with both the capital and the expertise they need to scale, strengthen operations, and create lasting impact in their communities.”

Restaurant owners can learn more and apply at https://www.nationalace.org/2025-restaurant-accelerator-grant.

Grubhub Unlocks New Sales Channels and Marketing Tools for Merchants

Grubhub restaurant partners in markets where Wonder operates can now reach more diners directly in the Wonder app.

At Grubhub, we’re always exploring new ways to increase value for the 415,000+ merchants across our platform in more than 4,000 cities nationwide. We’ve recently introduced new features and refreshed our existing brands to create additional marketing channels for merchants that drive visibility and generate more sales for our restaurant partners.

Adding Local Restaurants on Wonder

Tens of thousands of Grubhub merchants in Wonder’s existing markets are now available to customers through the Wonder app. This gives Grubhub merchants access to an additional platform – with no extra work and at no extra cost –  to reach even more customers. By sitting alongside Wonder originals and Blue Apron’s selection of meal kits and prepared meals, Grubhub merchants gain visibility among Wonder’s diner base while still benefiting from the scale and support of the Grubhub platform. 

Relaunching Seamless in New York City 

In April 2025, we relaunched Seamless to harness the long-standing love for the brand in NYC, bolstered by our history serving city residents and the strength of our corporate ordering business. Merchant partners can now market their business across Grubhub and Seamless in the city, creating more value from their Grubhub partnership. With low fees across the network, Seamless offers NYC merchants an additional channel to reach loyal customers in one of the largest markets in the country.

Access to Amazon Storefront 

Last year, we expanded our partnership with Amazon, allowing U.S. Amazon customers to discover and order from Grubhub merchants directly on Amazon.com and in the Amazon Shopping app. This continues today, offering Grubhub merchants access to Amazon’s millions of customers and extending their reach far beyond the Grubhub platform. Through high-traffic retail moments like Prime Day, the Grubhub and Amazon partnership further creates unique opportunities for merchants to capture incremental orders and boost sales.

Leveraging Grubhub For Restaurants

In addition to offering more ordering channels that drive new customers to our Grubhub merchants, we’ve also invested in marketing tools. Our self-service marketing platform, Grubhub For Restaurants, enables partners to manage menus, hours, promotions, orders, and more across both their Grubhub Marketplace listing and Grubhub Direct site, all in one place. Merchants can also tap into regular promo offers like “Treat Yourself Tuesdays” – customers receive up to 20% off their orders –  and “Freebie Fridays” – delicious free items, which help drive more customers and larger orders. 

Specifically in NYC, we refreshed our marketing package for merchants to provide more control and flexibility in how they reach diners. With our all-access package, NYC merchants receive placement on Grubhub and Seamless, no platform or maintenance fees, and visibility to Grubhub+ and Amazon Prime members. It also includes professional menu photos, dedicated account support, monthly ad credit equal to your commission rate for any ads purchased, and up to $500 per month in free promotions to help attract more customers and drive sales.

Each of these initiatives ladders up to one goal: helping Grubhub merchants grow and reach more customers. From unlocking new diners through Wonder and Amazon, to reconnecting with loyal New Yorkers through Seamless, to enhancing our self-service tools with Grubhub for Restaurants, we’re focused on expanding the sales and marketing solutions that keep merchants at the center – because when our partners succeed, we all succeed.

Chicago’s Restaurant Resilience: Grubhub Honors 31 Pandemic-Born Businesses That Beat the Odds

Despite the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chicago entrepreneurs across the city took a leap of faith, opening their restaurant doors during the 2020 lockdown. Today, Grubhub is proud to recognize 31 resilient business owners through the Established 2020 program, honoring those who reached their five-year milestone in 2025.

Take, for instance, Afro Joe’s Coffee & Tea in Beverly. Husband and wife duo, Kendall and Aisha Griffin opened their doors amidst unprecedented challenges but quickly became a neighborhood hub, not just for coffee but for community. Or consider CheSa’s Bistro & Bar in Avondale, owner Chesaree Rollins brought authentic Creole flavors – all gluten-free – to the city during a time when comfort food was needed more than ever. These are only a couple of the stories that highlight the spirit of Chicago’s restaurant scene, and it’s these stories that Grubhub wants to celebrate through Established 2020.

The initiative recognizes 31 small business restaurants from 25 different neighborhoods across Chicago. Each of these independent restaurants launched during a period of immense uncertainty but demonstrated remarkable strength and determination. The honorees reflect Chicago’s rich cultural diversity, with many being women-, minority-, and family-owned businesses. They contribute to the city’s vibrant food scene with cuisines ranging from Thai and Indian to Latin American and modern American.

“Our Established 2020 honorees capture what makes Chicago’s restaurant scene so special — hardworking, community-focused, and full of heart,” said Lisa Belot, Director of Corporate Affairs at Grubhub. “This program is our way of saying thank you to the entrepreneurs who took a big risk during the pandemic and created something meaningful. We’re proud to support them and celebrate how they’re helping shape the city’s food culture. Their stories show that resilience isn’t just about getting through tough times — it’s about building something even stronger.”

As part of the award, Grubhub provided over $80,000 in critical funding to support the continued growth of these restaurants. Award recipients plan to reinvest in their operations by hiring more staff, upgrading kitchen equipment, refreshing dining spaces, and expanding marketing efforts.

From Bronzeville’s Dirty Tiff’s Cafe to Uptown’s Thai Pastry Restaurant, the Established 2020 honorees have become cultural and community pillars. The full list of Established 2020 Award restaurant recipients includes:

To honor their perseverance and celebrate their impact, Grubhub will host a private celebration for our Established 2020 honorees on Tuesday, June 3rd, in Chicago. The event will bring together honorees to share their unique stories and celebrate the promising futures they are creating.

These are the businesses that didn’t just survive. They thrived, becoming essential parts of their neighborhoods and the very fabric of Chicago’s vibrant food culture.

Grubhub’s Expanding Impact Partnerships Champion Local Restaurant Businesses and Their Teams

Grubhub’s commitment to independent restaurants extends far beyond facilitating deliveries. We view these businesses as the very foundation of our success. And, we recognize the significant role the U.S. restaurant industry plays as the nation’s second-largest private employer, providing livelihoods for over 12 million people. Beneath the vibrant culinary landscape, however, lie very real challenges. Thin margins pressure restaurant operators and frontline workers face limited pathways for economic advancement, with just four percent advancing to entry-level corporate jobs and receiving the accompanying wage and experiencing growth.

This understanding fuels our year-round impact focus on supporting independent restaurants. During Small Business Month, our efforts intensified as we engaged in a series of strategic initiatives designed to bolster the thousands of independent restaurants that power our platform while simultaneously cultivating greater opportunity within the broader hospitality sector.

Grubhub is a proud founding supporter of MORE, a first-of-its-kind coalition focused on building a thriving, equitable, and enduring restaurant industry. By uniting around this common goal with other organizations, including The James Beard Foundation, Regarding Her Food, and Women In Hospitality United, we are accelerating collective impact, driving innovative solutions, and advancing economic mobility across the restaurant industry. MORE’s vision is to replicate and scale successful regional programs focused on culinary training, upskilling and career development programs, and initiatives removing barriers to entry for marginalized communities.

“Grubhub’s early support of our mission, continued partnership, and commitment to impact has been transformational for our work,” said Elizabeth Murray, Co-founder, MORE. “Together we’ve built a collaborative network across a diverse group of organizations, unlocking new opportunities for shared learning, creative partnerships, and expanded programming. Moving forward, MORE will continue to leverage our combined resources to deliver solutions that meet multiple, intersecting needs and drive enormous social and economic impact for all our stakeholders – workers, operators, employers, and the communities they serve.” 

Since 2022, the Grubhub Community Fund has worked closely with Women in Hospitality United and other founding partners on the development and launch of the MORE Coalition since 2022. Today, the Grubhub Community Fund continues to support MORE’s coalition launch and public awareness efforts. 

Our commitment to empowering restaurant entrepreneurs extends to our partnership with Feed the Soul. With grant support from the Grubhub Community Fund, we’ve helped enable the launch of the Culinary Business Network (CBN), a new digital platform designed to provide on-demand, educational resources to food entrepreneurs across the country, with grant support from the Grubhub Community Fund. For less than $1 a day, restaurants and caterers will have access to business development resources, including how to grow your customer base, streamline operations, grow your revenue, stay ahead of industry trends, and more. The CBN is designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are, providing the resources they need to scale their businesses effectively.

“For the past five years, the Grubhub Community Fund has been more than a supporter of Feed the Soul Foundation; they have been a true partner,” said Juana Collins, Executive Director, Feed the Soul Foundation. “We are excited to collaborate with Grubhub on our new Culinary Business Network digital platform, a space designed to help businesses connect, share ideas, and access valuable resources to grow and succeed. This partnership is about more than funding; it’s about building a stronger future for the culinary industry.”

Partnering with Feed the Soul for the last five years, the Grubhub Community Fund has distributed more than $1.2 million to local restaurants across the country, and our more recent support of the development of the Culinary Business Network will allow us to continue to help small business restaurants in their growth journey. 

Through our partnership with The Hatchery Chicago, the Grubhub Community Fund has helped power its Incubation Cohort. This six-month program is meant to help early-stage entrepreneurs developing a consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brand – including snacks, beverages, baked goods, catering company, meal delivery, or food truck – launch their business. The latest cohort engaged in monthly sessions covering essential food and beverage business strategies complemented by hands-on exercises with helpful templates and resources to deepen their learning. The program wrapped with a pitch and sampling event for guests at The Hatchery, where participants celebrated their program graduation and journey of turning their business concepts into reality. 

Since 2023, the Grubhub Community Fund’s support has enabled scholarships to Chicago’s West Side residents participating in The Hatchery’s programs. Additionally, we support The Hatchery’s efforts to develop and provide educational resources for restaurateurs, and help entrepreneurs solidify their business plans and complete all required licensing to launch and scale their restaurants. 

Beyond these strategic impact partnerships, we remain committed to supporting local restaurants through our day-to-day operations. In NYC, we recently brought back the $1 Cheese Slice as a part of our Seamless brand relaunch, helping drive awareness, recognition, and foot traffic to more than 40 local pizzerias across the city’s five boroughs participating in the pick-up only campaign. In Chicago, we launched Established 2020, a new award program to honor the local restaurants that opened their doors in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and defied the odds to remain open today. 

Through our operational initiatives and strategic impact partnerships, Grubhub will continue showing up for our independent restaurant partners. We believe in the power of a vibrant hospitality industry and will continue to support its growth and prosperity for years to come.